Thermostats: Installs & Replacement

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve your home’s heating and cooling system and minimize the chance of needing an ac repair company is by upgrading your thermostat. Your thermostat is the “brains” of your HVAC system. Through the years, there have been technological improvements in thermostats, making them increasingly smarter. Today’s thermostats are capable of operating your heating and cooling system more efficiently than ever.

Thermostat Replacement, Repair, & Installation Services We Provide

Temperature Regulation: How Thermostats Changed the way we Heat & Cool Indoor Air

Years ago, inside air was heated by furnaces and fireplaces. Air was cooled by opening windows and creating breezes through ventilation. Temperature was adjusted by manually opening or closing fireplace flues, adding wood to a fire, and by opening and closing windows to certain heights. As electric fans and blowers came into play, movement of air became more efficient. So did the ability to automatically control internal temperatures in homes with the invention of a device called the thermostat.

What Is a Thermostat?

Thermostats are switches that automate the control of your home’s temperature. The basic job of a thermostat is to measure and maintain the internal temperature of your home to a level that you determine is most comfortable. Setting thermostats is as simple as setting a “goal” temperature. Lowering your goal temperature will make it cooler in your home, and of course increasing the temperature will make it warmer.

What Types of Thermostat Sensors are There?

There are three basic types of thermostat sensors:

Mechanical Thermostats with Bimetallic Strips

Mechanic Thermostats with Gas Bellows

Digital or Electronic Thermostat Sensors

Sensors detect the current temperature, and when compared with the desired temperature the thermostat is set to trigger either the air conditioning system to start, stop, or change intensity. Thermostats also regulate heat in this way. However, not all thermostats trigger responses to change in temperature the same.

What Type of Indoor Air Thermostats Should I Choose?

That depends on your budget and the current setup of your HVAC system. If you can afford to upgrade to a smart thermostat panel from traditional mechanical or programmable thermostats that require manual action, we highly recommend installing one. It will save so much money on electricity and the mother earth will thank you for it.

How Does a Mechanical Thermostat Sensor Work?

There are two types of mechanical thermostat sensors: bimetallic and gas bellow. Traditional bimetallic thermostat sensors are constructed using two different types of metals called bimetallic strips. These strips react to the surrounding temperature, expanding and contracting. As they expand and contract, they serve as a bridge that controls power to the heating and cooling units. Manufacturers have created thermostats based on this expansion/contraction of bimetallic strips.

Another type of mechanical thermostat is constructed using gas-filled bellows designed to react quicker to changes of temperatures in a home than bimetallic strips. This type of thermostat uses a pair of metal discs that have gas-filled bellows between them. A larger surface area absorbs temperature changes quicker and creates a more responsive thermostat.

Should I Install a Modern Smart Thermostat? What are the Advantages?

Yes, you should upgrade to a smart thermostat. If you install a smart thermostat, it will save you money on electricity bills and help you maintain safe temperatures in your home for pets and belongings remotely, at the touch of your fingers.

Modern thermostats have the capability to do much more than turn your air conditioner or heat source on and off. They can direct heat into certain areas of a home and can control the times of day HVAC systems come on and off. The most modern of these can even be monitored and controlled by an app on a smart phone. Most importantly, a new thermostat installation gives homeowners greater control of their HVAC systems. This can save considerably on energy bills.

How Do I Know if I Should Replace My Thermostat Sensors?

If you replaced the batteries in your thermostat and it still will not turn on, the sensors could be bad. If the air conditioner keeps running even though it feels very cold as though the temperature is far below the desired temperature, this is another sign that your HVAC thermostat sensors are broken. Another indication of a bad sensor is different temperatures in different zones of the building or home.

San Antonio Thermostat Installations – Free Estimates

If you live in the San Antonio, Texas area and are frustrated with your heating and cooling bills, a new thermostat may help. Call us at Service First Air Conditioning and Heating and our experienced thermostat installers can help you. We have over 20 years of experience serving the residents of the San Antonio Metro. When you call (210) 521-1500, you are taking the first step to reducing your energy bills by improving the performance of your HVAC system. Contact us today and see how a small investment may pay big dividends. Call Service First Air Conditioning and Heating and let us help you maximize your energy budget with a new replacement thermostat.